Improvement in machines for cutting up corn-stalks



J. FORLOW. U Machine for Cutting up Corn-Stalks.

,No. 202,531. Patented April 16, 1878.

' Fig.1.

W- i j g UNITE-D, Srnrns PATENT Gaston.

JACOB FORLOW, OF EATON, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS HISRIGHT TO LEVI BARNHART, OF SAME PLACE, AND 'WILLIAM LANTIS, OF WIN- oHEsrEa oHIo.

IMPROVEMENT lN M ACl- -lINESYFOR CUTTVING u CORN-STALKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 202,531, dated April 16, 1878 application filed 3 February 28, 1878. I

To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that I, JACOB -FORLOW, of Eaton, Preble county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Machine for Cutting up Corn- Stalks, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to certain improvements in the class of machines designed to be drawn over the ground, and, in so doing, to gather and reduce to short fragments whatever corn-stalks or other trash or stubble may be lying thereupon; and my improvements comprise a series of rotary knives, adjustable as to height, which coact with a series of steel gathering-fin gers, also adjustable, the rotation of said knives being secured bymeans of suitable geared connection with one of the groundwheels.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a corn-stalk cutter embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same in the line of draft. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the pinionand pinionshifter. Fig. 4 represents the rear portion of arm and the fingersocket, partially detached.

A may represent a suitable rectangular frame, constituting the bed of a vehicle, supported upon two ground-wheels, B O, of unequal diameter, and of which the smaller wheel, B, has cast or otherwise connected to its inner side a spur-wheel, D. The pole E of the vehicle is secured by bolt F and staple G to that part of the bed A which is near the smaller wheel 13.

A counter-shaft, H, suitably journaled in the bed, has a feathered portion for a sliding pinion, I, which, in one of its positions, gears with the spur-wheel D. The counter-shaft H has firmly keyed to it a spur-wheel, J, into which meshes a pinion, K, upon a shaft, L, that is journaled in boxes M, which occupy curved guide-yokes N, having the form of arcs of circles concentric with said shaft H.

A hand-lever, 0, having suitable mechanical connection, P, with the boxes M, enables the operator to elevate or depress the boxes M, and consequently also the shaft L, while a spring-catch, O, on the said lever, engaging in a notched rack, Q, enables the said members to be retained at Whatever elevation they may be adjusted.

The shaft L is armed'with several whirls of revolving knives 1%, whose blades are, preferably, of the hook form represented, and, being secured in sockets S by means of bolts T, are capable of being removed at any time for sharpening or replacement by new ones. The sockets of each whirl of knives are lateral projections from wheels U attached to the shaft L.

Arms V, which are hinged at o to the bedfront, extend rearward, as shown, and have pivoted, w, to their rear ends the sockets W of steel gathering-fingers X, ofwhich there is one finger for each knife-whirl, and of which each finger is located on that side of its coacting knife-whirl which is next'the annular guard and carrier U, and consequently on the side remote from the sockets S. Each knife-whirl having thus interposed the said annular guard between said whirl and the finger that operates with it, prevents the possibility of collision of said knives and their coacting fingers, which would otherwise be liable to take place When-striking aroot or other large object.

Each socket W has an orifice, w, for a wooden pin, w, which, being caused to enter said orifice w, and one of a series of orifices, c, in the arm, hold the finger to the desired angle relatively to said arm. Should the finger engage with some obstruction that would be liable to break it, the fracture of the wooden pin w permits the finger to yield, and in this manner saves it from destruction.

Each finger, being secured in its socket by means of a screw, as, can be readily removed for repair or renewal whenever necessary.

The several arms V are secured against lateral displacement by guides Y, and the entire gang of arms, with their attached fingers, arecapable of being any moment elevated, so

as to run clear of impediments, by means of a hand-lever, 0, having suitable mechanical connection P, with a bar, Z, which extends athwart the bed underneath the said arms V. A spring-catch, 0, and notched rack Q enable the said members to be retained at what ever elevation they may be adjusted.

The drivers seat 1 is secured to the draftpole in the manner represented, in convenient proximity to the levers O and O, and to a lever, 2, having suitable mechanical connection, 3, with shifting-bar 4, by which the pinion I is put in or out of gear with the spurwheel D, so as to connect or disconnect the drive-wheel B with the knife-whirls. A catch, 5, serves to hold the lever 2 to either position at which it may be placed.

The operation of my machine is as follows: When required to be taken to the field, the levers O, O, and 2 are so placed as to completely elevate the rotary knives and the gathering-fingers and to disengage the gearing. Having arrived at the place of work, these' levers are so placed as to put the operative parts into their effective positions, the operator adjusting the fingers and knives to the position deemed most favorable for usefulness.

The fingers then, on the machine being drawn forward, gather the stalks, and hold them in convenient position and body for the action of the sharp and rapidly-revolvin g knives, which, having severed the stalks, leave them upon the surface of the ground in convenient condi- I JACOB FORLOW.

Attest GEO. H. KNIGHT, L. H. BOND. 

